Terror Lurking in the Dirt

By Victoria Tremble January 30, 2014

Earthworms are small, wet, wiggly, and harmless, right? Great for the garden, and fun for young ones, what detrimental effects could worms possibly have? Well, thanks to scientists like Becka Walling, we are finally starting to understand the farreaching effects of earthworms in North America. Approximately 30,000 years ago, glaciers decimated the native earthworm populations in North America. Without any large litter-eaters, forest floors evolved to be a thick layer of leaves, decaying trees, and dead plants. Imagine a spongy, brown and green carpet, covering every inch of the ground, providing an amazing habitat for thousands of small creatures! The result is ideal for songbirds, tiny mammals, salamanders, and more. About 200 years ago, this picture drastically changed. Colonists from Europe came to North America and brought a myriad of non-native species with them. In an attempt to reproduce the landscapes they were familiar with, hundreds of trees and shrubs were brought to the Americas, and lurking in their soil were tons of earthworms. Thus, the initial introduction took place. Since then, earthworms have been expanding their range, inch by inch, as they still are today. Now, any organic material that reaches the forest floor is immediately devoured by the wriggling pests. The result is a bare forest floor, where soil is immediately visible. There is little to no shelter for small animals, and the environment is unsuitable for ferns and other native sedges.

An all-too-common sight: the invasive Asian earthworm. Photo courtesy of the BBC.

Though we have reached some tentative conclusions about invasive earthworms and their ecological role, there is still a lot to learn. Thats where Becka Walling, a graduate student at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, comes in. Ms. Walling studies below-ground ecology, a formerly neglected, nonetheless fascinating, field of biology. She has spent the last two years collecting various data relating to earthworms and their effects. Her field sites are located in New York and New Hampshire, where the wormy invasion has already taken place. Wallings strategies for collecting data include taking soil cores, collecting and identifying earthworms, and taking tree surveys. The soil cores are taken using a metal, tube-like instrument, which allows for extensive analyzation of soil layers and

chemical composition. Worm collecting has formerly been done by pouring formaldehyde, a toxic liquid, over the soil, causing all invertebrates within to crawl to the surface and die. Walling uses a new, different technique, in which a mustard powder and water mix is poured on collection sites. This irritates the worms skin, causing them to crawl to the surface for collection, and avoiding the release of toxic chemicals into the environment. Finally, tree surveys were taken around the worm collection sites, in which species, diameter, and distance from the site were recorded. All of the data collection, which took place over several months, has culminated in some very interesting and relevant findings. Soil without earthworms has very distinct layers, including an organic layer at the surface, followed by mineral layers, then bedrock. Earthworms burrow through the layers, transporting soil along the way, leading to a much less distinct soil profile. This homogeneity may make it much easier for invasive plants to gain a foothold in North American soils, and harder for native plants to survive. Wallings research also supports the fact that earthworms prefer soil with a higher pH, which is less acidic. This preference is theorized to be the explanation of why earthworms are not yet present in the Adirondack Mountains. Soil there is more acidic, caused by the limestone bedrock

beneath the soil. The habitat is likely uninhabitable for earthworms! All in all, Wallings research has resulted in some significant contribution the story of invasive earthworms in North America. Research on earthworm ecology first picked up in 2004, but it was slow start, due to imperfect methods and lacking interest. Now there are several research groups in North America, including ones in Georgia and Minnesota. The field is growing, including in the use of citizen science. Citizen science is the involvement of non-research personnel in data collection. For example, schools can take earthworm surveys at a local forest or park, and add to the body of information that already exists. Although Becka Wallings research is drawing to a close, she has left tons of information and data for anyone looking to build on her work. The complex workings of the underground are often overlooked and forgotten. The invisible forces just under the surface have innumerable impacts on what we see above ground, and a vibrant community exists in what many see as dirt!